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"Cool Man Cool"
"Cool Man Cool" is a new recording by Grant Geissman with the guitarist
playing fourteen original compositions. Geissman is known for his work
as a studio musician, jazz guitarist and co-writer of the theme to the
sitcom “Two and Half Men”. This album showcases a variety of different
styles and ensemble settings.
The introductory track “Cool Man Cool” begins with finger snaps and
bongos that leads into a swinging minor blues. The mood is very beatnik
hipster and climaxes with an angular unison shout chorus. Following
this track is “Chicken Shack Jack,” a blues tune featuring Jim Cox on
organ and Tom Scott on tenor sax. Geissman plays some George Benson
like single note lines before going into some bluesy bends and octave
work.
“Chuck and Chick” is a notable because it captures trumpeter Chuck
Mangione’s reunion with pianist Chick Corea, who used to play in
Mangione’s quintet in 1965. Corea’s lush voicings beautifully accompany
Mangione’s warm tone on this contemporary Latin number. Geissman
switches to a nylon string guitar for this tune and takes a passionate
solo.
Other styles are explored on this album as well. “Nawlins” uses a New
Orleans style street beat feel. In “Minnie Lights Out” Geissman
plays in 1930’s swing style showing off some Django Rheinhardt like
guitar playing. “Dig Some Sides” is a straight ahead, burning, up-tempo
bebop tune while “Cool Blooz” is a Chicago style blues shuffle. This
final track features Geissman playing distorted electric guitar and
some nice dobro slide guitar work by Dennis Brown.
Throughout this recording Geissman focuses on mood and feel over
virtuosic playing or special effects. The writing is idiomatic to the
musical styles and the production is excellent. "Cool Man, Cool"
is a statement of Geissman’s musical diversity and “cool” guitar
playing.
-Jarvis Raymond
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